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March 2024 by Jack M.
It was a lovely place I have been going for 8 years and will keep going for as long as I like here!
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January 2024 by Michael KCF
I love climbing and follow Planet Rock on social media. Today, I happened to drive past the gym and decided to check it out. Grant kindly gave me a full tour, sharing insightful details about Planet Rock's history and future. Although this area is a bit of a drive for me, because of the amazing team, I'll definitely be climbing here in the next few weeks!
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December 2023 by J
Been a member for over a year. My experience is that it's a solid older gym that needs some updates. The biggest thing I've seen and where they deserve credit is that they genuinely seem to listen to reviews and customers.In the last year, I've seen them update policies that are more casual climber friendly, install dust collection units in the bouldering area, change out walls regularly, and proactively sign and fix issues when they happen.Most of the staff are friendly but given the nature of the industry, there will always be high turnover and a few less than amazing people. I've heard one instructor talk as though his way is gospel as opposed to gym policy.Things I'd like to see improved... More downclimb holds in the bouldering area. Ive seen too many beginner/intermediate climbers get to the top, fully gassed and only have harder holds to climb down on. Next would be better flooring. Lastly, sinks outside the bathrooms so you can wash your hands without having to change shoes just to go into the bathroom.Looking forward to another year of climbing.
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December 2023 by Christine Rodriguez
I traveled to Michigan recently to see my boyfriends family and had the pleasure of stopping at Planet Rock! I travel often and usually stop in to climb at the local gyms, so I’ve seen quite the variety of what gyms have to offer… for better and for worse.Planet Rock was incredible! I was truly impressed with the route setting and variety of routes on the wall. The features in the Ann Arbor gym were also impressive! Getting to pull on a plastic stalactite legitimately made my week. The fitness area is also complete and pleasing.The gym also has a cafe that is high quality coffee and very reasonably priced. My boyfriend and I enjoyed a coffee mid climbing session pretty much every time we visited. It really is a nice touch.. and also encourages a little bit of a rest!Grant was an outstanding staff member/manager and I enjoyed learning more about the gym with him and getting lead certified through him. Grant also shared about climbing in the surrounding area, and I felt much more aware and proficient by the end of our visits.Stoked my boyfriend is from Michigan and I’ll be back to climb more in 2024! Thanks Planet Rock!
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December 2023 by Matthew Harrison
The facilities themselves are decent, little dirty but overall a good gym. The staff on the other hand needs improvement. About half are nice and helpful, the other half enjoy making you feel beneath them. They’re smarter than you and they want you know it. Disrespectful and rude, not how customers should be treated at all.
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December 2023 by Michael Beans
The staff were super nice, but this place is disgusting. Every hold is incredibly greasy, the bouldering mats seem like they’ve never been cleaned. Just felt gross the whole time.
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November 2023 by Jonathan Owens
Planet Rock's staff is top notch. The facility is amazing, with a separate area for bouldering only. Some of the most difficult routes in the entire state. If you're looking for a challenge, look no further!
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October 2023 by Steven Price
It’s a good gym, but not being able to pause your membership when you’re going to be out of town for a while is absolutely insane. Even to cancel, you have to give them 30 days notice before you’re going to be charged. And then if you want to rejoin at a later date, they’d charge you the $50 new member startup fee again. Basically making it so that you might as well just pay full price even when you won’t be using the gym. The monthly membership costs is already very expensive compared to other gyms, but they get away with all of this because it’s the only one in the area.
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September 2023 by lisa bermudez
Extremely kind staff and a very fun atmosphere. But the bouldering was significantly lacking. A large portion of the bouldering area is Comp style which is a massive waste of space. Additionally the routs are very bland for the most part. I have climbed at a variety of gyms and the boulders at this planet Rock are very lackluster in comparison to other gyms.
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September 2023 by Ross Smyth
Planet Rock is amazing for climbing. I just started climbing this year, and go multiple times per week now. I primarily boulder, and now that U of M started classes again, it seems the walls are being reset more regularly. My only minor complaint about that is sometimes the more beginner problems are lacking. But I guess just git gud.I do have a real, major complaint though. Kids. During the week they are everywhere. And it is not fun trying to climb around them. They run around the bouldering area, they run under you when you are slipping, they get on problems that overlap with the one you are in the middle of doing. Just unware, clueless, and unsafe. I'm fine waiting for some kids to mess around on a problem. But when they are running under me, jumping on problems that overlap mine just because the staff says "five minutes," it's frustrating. I understand the affluent Ann Arbor parent market is a good market to tap into, but trying to just relax after work gets hard occasionally. And the kids are there almost every weekday so too bad. Saturday afternoons are the best.
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August 2023 by Brandon Barber
My wife and I just left this place. Had a great time very friendly staff wish I would of remembered the names of the two that helped us. But had a blast and highly recommend. This was a really good time and new thing for us. Is also a good workout even if you go to the gym. Definitely will be coming back.
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August 2023 by Kyle Seeber
Tucked away inconspicuously just off of Jackson Rd, there exists a portal to a world that could only be described as "Planet Rock." It's as if all the Subarus and Jeeps in the universe conspired to form a vehicular parade leading to this peculiar spot. And the people? Oh, they're like a mix of over-caffeinated puppies and seasoned explorers, bounding in with enthusiasm and a hint of exhaustion. Regardless of age, they saunter in wearing outfits that range from "I'm here to conquer Everest" to "I just woke up, who even am I?"But buckle up, because the rabbit hole goes deeper than a spelunker's dream. Behold, the enigmatic white substance! If you thought it was an art studio doused in a snowstorm, you'd be half-right. You'd imagine these folks are crafting clay sculptures that will someday grace museums or painting masterpieces that'll make Van Gogh roll in his grave. Alas, dear friend, the plot thickens.Venture forth into this den of eccentricity, and you're slapped in the face with a caffeine-loaded wonderland. A coffee shop in one corner operates with the energy of a supernova, while a store beckons you with the allure of an enchanted bazaar. It's like a fusion of a pirate's treasure trove, a mad scientist's lab, and a magician's hat—all rolled into one. Expect ropes that Jack Sparrow would've considered grand theft, shoes that were clearly designed by the Cheshire Cat, chalk that might've been mined from unicorn caves, tapes that defy classification (and maybe the laws of physics), and enough gadgets to make Q from James Bond blush.But wait, dear seeker of the extraordinary! The climax awaits, and it's the sort of oddball spectacle that only "Planet Rock" can offer. One chamber plays host to the "Muscle Minstrels," a troupe of half-naked, sweat-soaked demigods that could easily fit into Thor's friend circle. Their grunts could shake the foundations of Mount Olympus as they wrestle with the walls. These modern-day titans wage a gravity-defying battle with an array of chromatic faux stones, as if they're playing a life-sized game of Candy Crush for the adrenaline-hungry.And then, my fellow wanderer, enters the "Gravity's Ballerinas." These lithe souls are as delicate as dandelion fluff yet as audacious as skydivers on a sugar rush. Picture ballerinas with a dash of Indiana Jones flair. They strut around adorned in harnesses that blend safety gear with futuristic fashion. Their stage? Towering walls that reach for the stars, mocking any sensible notion of staying grounded. With a single rope as their sidekick, they pirouette up the walls like nimble spiders, challenging both the laws of physics and your skepticism.And so, dear traveler, you wonder what this curious realm might be named? Behold, the gateway to all this peculiarity and adrenaline is none other than "Planet Rock." It's a sanctuary for the brave, a haven for the unconventional, and a carnival for the audacious. It's where everyday folks and daredevils collide in a symphony of madness, where white substances are badges of honor, and where both gravity and reason are mere afterthoughts. Welcome to "Planet Rock," where coffee flows like rocket fuel, tape is the key to unlocking your wildest dreams, and the walls are canvases for the stories you'll tell for years to come.
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July 2023 by Tekla Mendez
Friendly staff, but as an experienced climber I saw something on my first visit I have never seen at a gym - an autobelay did not catch a climber and she freefell, absolutely no support from the autobelay (she was clipped in correctly the whole time). Fortunately she fell from boulder height but was understandably winded.Staff proceeded to climb up the route using an adjacent autobelay to take it down, however did not alert climbers next to the route and nearly hit a climber with the slack of the broken belay. Overall the place seems to be understaffed for how busy it is, with no accountability for safety. Beyond this incident, many people were walking under climbers and there was no instruction from staff. I wish I could recommend, staff were very friendly, but this place is not safe for top roping/auto belay.
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July 2023 by Levi Kimball
Fantastic staff, fun routes, and always feels like a safe and relaxing place.I started climbing here when I was 16 and was nervous about entering into the new environment, but I quickly found that the staff work exceptionally hard to make you feel welcome. I’ve always been greeted with a smile and know I can ask for help with a route any time.Planet Rock is a place where climbers of all skills come together, so I never feel out of place if I’m struggling with a route. New climbers and experienced climbers always end up talking and working on problems together. The community is wonderful.All around an incredible climbing gym, will always be my go-to when I’m in Ann Arbor.
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July 2023 by Helena Heinonen
Epic setting. Highly recommend to anyone traveling through the area. Wide variety of setting in the bouldering room, including their own wall dedicated to comp style climbs! Grading is a bit stiff, be prepared to be humbled
